The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-07
OLD MRS. COLE.
THE RgDIcuLoUs AND HUMOROUS EFFECTS OF
FALSE REPoRTs-A STORY NEVER LOSES
ANYTHING.
BY 5. A. WEISS.


"0h.r said Mrs Stebbins, as she ali hit
ed from the W gon at her own door, ant
shook hands with Miss Naylor, who hap
pened to be passing, = you see louiy wen
for day and night, and didn't thinl
it worth while to advertise it on the
church doors. / wante,i to buy some dry
goods and kitchen things. and they arr
cheaper in BarnvilIe than in little plac,
like this And besides there's my niece
Maria, whom | hadn't seen since hel
last baby WAS born, and she and the
baby both in poor health. So thought
might as well go up, and kill two bir,l'
with one stone"
ITO be surel And how did you find
Maria and the baby? And how are al
the other folks in Barnville?'
"WelI, was glad to find them tive
looking pretty spry and smart and as
fer the rest, didn't hear of anybody be-
ing sick or in trouble, unless twas old
Cole"
"Ahl So old Mrs. Cole is sick And
what is ii ails her this time?' remarked
Miss Naylor, With lock of aroused in
terest.
Why, nothing much, | reckon. ] did
hear Maria holler to little Betty Cole and
ask her how her gran'ma was to-day
and she said bout the SHINE as yesterday.
Maria asked if the fever had gone down
but jest then Jeems came in to dinner,
80 didn't hear the rest, and forgot 10
ak Maria about Mrs. Cole.
well, WE'LL I'm sorry to hear she's
sick, poor soul for she's a good woman.
and We can't easy afford to spare such.
But she's well on in years, and I've been
rather expecting to hear Of her being
took down, considerin' she's over sixty
But, law me. mustn't keep you stand
in here in the street and you just come
home. Good-by ; and depend upon me
for coming round to see what pretty
things you've bought"
With this Miss Naylor turned away.
and with her basket on her arm proceed
ed to the store for supply of grocer
ies.
There she found Mrs. Brown, the house
carpenters wife, engaged in cheapening
calico.
You amt as smart as Mrs. Stebbins,
she said, a the two women examined
the quality of the calico. "She's been
up to Farnville and laid in lot of dry
goods and things, for the sake Of saving
bout twenty-five cents or SO. For my
part, | 90 in for encouraging our home
trsde"
"Well, don't know" Mrs. Brown re-
piled, doubtfully. Seems to me every
body's bound to look onr for their own
interest, and confess ia 90 little out
of the way to save twenty-five cents But
what did Sally Stebbinssay wasthe news
in BarnyiIle ?"
Nothing. except that old Mrs. Coles
down with fever Mrs. Stehbins said she
was no better when she left She's over
sixty. and | wouldn't be surprised to
hear Of her death any minute"
| wonder if John Coles wife knows ii ?
She ought to be told, for her husbands
mother was second cousin to old Mrs.
Cole, and they've got the same family
name, and have always been friendly.
If she dies they'll 90 to the funeral, Of
course, as they did when the old man
died four or five years ago"
Then Miss NayIor turned to the grocer
les, and Mrs Brown, having concluded
her bargain ~ persuading the merchant
to take basket OF dried apples in part
payment for his goods left the store and
took her way homeward, well pleased
with the bargain
Meeting neighbor on the way, the
two stoppeda moment to exchange greet
ing and inquire the news.
That reminds me-" said Mrs. Brown.
promptly. I've just this mintue parted
from Liza Naylor, and she told me that
she'd seen Mrs. Siebbins, who is jest from
Barnville, and left old Mrs. Cole as low
rs could be with the fever. Liza said
they were every minute expecting death.
and she's no doubt gone by this time,
poor soul. She thinks Jade Cole will go
10 the funeral, if she knows OF the old
lady's death"
Why, OF course, they ought TO send a
message and let them xnow," replied
Mrs. Miller they are their own kin,
though not very nigh and naturally
they'd go to the funeral"
Mrs. Miller Turned aside two squares to
speak to Fanny Bates, Mr. John Coles
wifeis sister. Miss Bates WAS seated ut
her window sewing, and Mrs. Miller CALI
ed to her:
Say, Fanny. does your sister know
that old Mrs. Cole. of Barnville, is
dead ?''
dead Good gracious. You don't say
y" said Miss Bates, dropping her work
ard leaning out of the window. Do come
in and tell me about il"
"welI, can't conveniently stop just
now, as it's time to be putting on dinner,
and Hiram's so particular. But I've jest
this minute heard from Mrs. Brown that
the old lady was a-dying Yesterday when
Mrs. Stebbins left BarnvilIe, and OF course
the funeral will be tomorrow. Wonder
if your sister Cole will goy"
II don't know as she's heard of II. y
Fanny Bates answered, in some ..xcite-
ment. but I'll 90 right around and see.
We never heard she was sick or Jane
would have gone up to see her, though
commonly there amt much visiting be-
tween them."
Mrs. John Cole was busy making app e
dumplinss when her sister Fanny rushed